Assalam Alaikum mu dear brothers and sister in islam.
It is with gratitude to Allah the Almighty that we are gathered here today to bid farewell to our intending pilgrims as they embark on the Spiritual journey to the Holy Land for the 2019 Hajj exercise. I note with appreciation that the number of our intending pilgrims has increased this year, thereby giving more people of our dear State the rare opportunity to fulfill the yearning of uttering “Labayk Allahumma Labayk” in observance of Hajj, the fifth Pillar of Islam.
Let me congratulate you for being part of this year’s spiritual voyage to Saudi Arabia. As you are aware, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which enjoins Muslims who have prepared spiritually with sound health to perform at least once in a life time. This religious undertaking is a major milestone in the lives of Muslims. It cleanses the sins of the servants of Allah and increases their Iman as well as Taqwa. I, therefore, urge you to reflect on the call of Allah in view of your status as His special guests and that of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallalahu Alaihi Wasallam).
It, therefore, becomes obligatory upon all Muslims to perform it with humility, decency, righteousness and all sense of decorum. You are reminded that your spiritual mission is to strengthen your faith and devotion as well as engage in acts of self-renewal, resilience and re-dedication towards worship of Almighty Allah.
My dear intending pilgrims, as you join the global communities in prayers at Holy sites designated as historical landmarks where prayers are answered by our Creator, it is imperative to commit the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nasarawa State, our communities and your families to an era of social, economic, moral and peaceful transformation. It is pertinent to state that Hajj is a unifying force of Muslims from different backgrounds in service of one God. It, therefore, becomes obligatory upon all Muslims to perform it with humility, decency, righteousness and all sense of decorum. You are reminded that your spiritual mission is to strengthen your faith and devotion as well as engage in acts of self-renewal, resilience and re-dedication towards worship of Almighty Allah.
As part of this trip, I am informed that you have received the desired induction and orientation in accordance with the norms and values of Hajj exercise from scholars, the Department of State Service (DSS) and Board officials respectively. I am optimistic that you have acquired the basic knowledge as Pilgrims to the Holy land.
To ensure the security and welfare of the Pilgrims, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has indicated that there are plans to screen Pilgrims across respective countries departure centres in an operation code-named “Makkah Road Project”. Consequently, Pilgrims are expected to be relieved of their hand luggage from their departure zones and picked-up upon arrival at designated hotels in Makkah and Madinah. Similarly, you must also confine yourself to the luggage limits of 8 kilograms for hand luggage and 32 kilograms for suit cases. I have received reports of the embarrassment Pilgrims face on their return journey due to excess luggage and importation of unwanted liquid and food substances as well as disposal plastic, spoons, plates, cups, among others.
On our part, I assure you that Government in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, has provided necessary security for your comfort while in the Holy Land.
I call on our pilgrims to be prepared for thorough screening starting at the Hajj camps where access restriction would be imposed at the Pilgrims camp to maximize security. In addition, security surveillance would be intensified in the Holy land to prevent assault on Nigerians while Nigerians are not expected to keep unwanted guests (Takarai) at their hotels or residences.
It is imperative to remind you that Nasarawa State pilgrims over the years exhibited good conduct that earned the State reputation for self-discipline, perseverance and orderliness while in the Holy Land. This exemplary conduct has continued to elevate the status of the State amongst its counterparts in Nigeria and around the world. I, therefore, call on you to uphold these virtues for the good of all. You are to desist from all acts that will diminish our reputation while in Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, you should avoid drug trafficking, money laundering, theft, prostitution, absconding, general indiscipline, unpleasant statement and other vices that will make you to deviate from the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On our part, I assure you that Government in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, has provided necessary security for your comfort while in the Holy Land. However, I implore you to also be security conscious in order not to give any room for hoodlums to infiltrate our pilgrims to commit crimes.
My dear intending Pilgrims, I am happy to state that the country is on top of the challenge of communicable disease with the introduction of electronic yellow cards and the dogged determination of the Port Health Authorities of the Federal Ministry of Health who ensured that pilgrims were administered with the necessary vaccine and undergone medical screening.
It is also important to state that Government is working in synergy with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to vensure palliatives for future Hajj operations. This is to enable the teeming Ummah to be able to embark on this spiritual voyage. In the same vein, we have also collaborated with the National Hajj Commission in providing benefiting accommodation for our pilgrims. Your respective accommodations are, thus, located close to Masjid Al-Haram in Makka and Masjid Al-Nabiyy in Madina for convenience. I assure you that, Government will continue to support our pilgrims for our collective benefit.
Your respective accommodations are, thus, located close to Masjid Al-Haram in Makka and Masjid Al-Nabiyy in Madina for convenience. I assure you that, Government will continue to support our pilgrims for our collective benefit.
Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that you are expected to abide by the rules of your engagements in this Hajj operation as they are made to enable you have a hitchfree exercise. I call on you to always wear the wrist band to be provided for you as you commence your spiritual obligations. The wrist band is designed with security features that are meant to ease any difficulties you might face during the Hajj activities. I should caution you that your refusal to wear the wrist band will attract sanction, including arrest, detention and even deportation.
In concluding this address, let me take liberty of this occasion to call on you to use the opportunity of this spiritual sojourn to pray for the sustenance of peace, tranquility, political stability and the overall progress of Nasarawa State and, indeed, Nigeria at large.
At this juncture, on behalf of the Government and good people of Nasarawa State, I wish you journey mercies and a rewarding Hajj exercise.
Thank you and may Allah bless us all.
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